A blindcave fish, A. jordani is recently evolved from the Mexican tetra (A. mexicanus). While it can be confused with the blind cave form of A. mexicanus, it evolved separately from the surface form, and is considered a different species.

This characin is listed on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable on the basis of shrinking population and an acutely-restricted and diminishing area of occupancy. It is fairly resilient, however, having a population doubling time of 15 months.

Astyanax jordani was formerly classified as Anoptichthys jordani, the sole member of genusAnoptichthys, and was first described by Carl Hubbs and William T. Innes. Anoptichthys hubbsi and Anoptichthys antrobius are junior synonyms.

Note that while this fish is often called "blind cave fish", that term normally refers more specifically to the blind cave form of A. mexicanus.